मधुरं मधुरं वपुरस्य विभो-
र्मधुरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरम् ।
मधुगन्धि मृदुस्मितमेतदहो
मधुरं मधुरं मधुरं मधुरम् ॥
madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vapur asya vibhor
madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vadanaṁ madhuram |
madhu-gandhi mṛdu-smitam etad aho
madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram ||
(Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta: 92; cited in Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.21.136)
“Sweet, sweet is this Lord’s figure.
Sweet, sweet, sweet is his face.
[And] Aho! Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet
Is this gentle, nectar-scented smile.”
Commentary
atha śrī-kṛṣṇasya pratikṣaṇam ananya-mādhurī-viśeṣam anubhavann āha—madhuram iti | asya puraḥ sphurato vibhor vividhaṁ bhavatīty evam ananta-rūpasya śrī-kṛṣṇasya madhuraṁ sahaja-ramaṇīyam api vapuḥ punar madhuram | rādhayā saha keli-kalā-rasenātiramaṇīyam ity arthaḥ | madhuraṁ vapur iti sāmānyena samudāyam uktvāvayavaṁ varṇayati—vadanaṁ sahaja-kānti-viśeṣodayena madhuram api madhuram | dṛṣṭi-vāg-vilāsādi-cihnenātimadhuram ity arthaḥ | aho āścaryam | etan mṛdu-smitaṁ madhuraṁ mahā-madhuram api punar madhuram, tato’pi punar madhuram, tato’pi punar madhuram iti mādhurī-pravāhavad iti | tatra hetuḥ—madhu-gandhi-mṛdu-smitam | madhūni ca gandhāḥ saurabhāṇi ca bhūyāṁsi santy atra, etādṛśaṁ mṛdu-smitaṁ yatra tat | toṭakaṁ chandaḥ |
(Kṛṣṇa-vallabhā-ṭīkā)
“Now, perceiving at every moment a particular, unique sweetness of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the author says madhuram … [i.e., he writes this verse]. This (asya) previously manifested Lord [i.e., Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has been perceived by the author previously] possesses variety, and thus although sweet (madhuram), that is, [although] naturally delightful, this figure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is possessed of innumerable forms, is more sweet, meaning, is exceedingly delightful [as he is being perceived at present] by virtue of his amorous play with Rādhā [that is presently unfolding before the author]. After thus speaking of the entirety [of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s figure] in general by [saying], ‘Sweet is this figure,’ the author describes a portion [of this figure]: the face, by virtue of the appearance of a special natural luster [therein], is sweet and even more sweet [than his figure in general], meaning, [it is] exceedingly sweet by virtue of the characteristics of his glances, the play of his speech, and so on. [The emotive particle] Aho conveys astonishment. This gentle smile [presently manifest on his face] is sweet (madhuram), that is, extremely sweet, more sweet [i.e., it is madhuram madhuram], more sweet than even that [i.e., it is madhuram madhuram madhuram], and more sweet than even that [i.e., it is madhuram madhuram madhuram madhuram]; it is like a continuous stream of sweetness. The cause thereof is that his mild smile is nectar-scented, meaning, it is that in which there is a gentle smile such that an abundance of the fragrances of [various] nectars are present within it. The meter is toṭakam.”
tad-upabhukta-tad-aṅga-mādhuryālokāt saharṣam āha—aho, asya vibhoḥ kṛta-sarva-samādhānasya vapur madhuraṁ madhuraṁ, paramāsvādyam api tad-bhuktatayātimadhuram | punaḥ śrī-mukham ālokyāha—vadanaṁ tu tad-daśana-kṣatādharādibhir madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram, atitarāṁ madhuram ity arthaḥ | tatra ca tad-adhara-madhu-gandha-yuktam etan mṛdu-smitaṁ tu madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram, atitamāṁ madhuram ity arthaḥ |
(Subodhinī-ṭīkā)
“With delight as a result of observing the sweetness (mādhurya) of his figure enjoyed by her [i.e., by Śrī Rādhā], the author says aho! Sweet, sweet is the figure of this Lord (Vibhu), meaning, he who has effected a reconciliation of everything [i.e., of a recent love quarrel with Śrī Rādhā], meaning, although it is supremely relishable [by nature], it is exceedingly sweet as a result of having been enjoyed by her. Then, observing the beautiful face [of Śrī Kṛṣṇa], the author says sweet, sweet, sweet, however, is his face by virtue of its limps having been cut by the bites from her teeth and so forth, meaning, [his face is] more exceedingly sweet [than his figure in general]. Therein, furthermore, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, however, is this gentle smile [of his] replete with the scent of the nectar of her lips, meaning, [his smile is] most exceedingly sweet [in comparison to both his figure and face in general].”
tādṛśānanta-tan-mādhurya-viśeṣam anubhūya sāścaryam āha—asya vibhor vapur madhuraṁ madhuraṁ, atisumadhuram ity arthaḥ | punaḥ śrī-mukham ālokya sa-śiraś-cālanam āha—vadanaṁ tu madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram, atitarāṁ sumadhuram ity arthaḥ | tatra smitam anubhūya sa-śītkāraṁ tan-nirdeśaka-tarjanī-cālana-pūrvakam āha—etan mṛdu-smitaṁ tu madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ, atitamāṁ sumadhuram ity arthaḥ | kīdṛśaṁ? madhu-gandhi madhu-saurabha-yuktam, mukhābjasya makaranda-rūpatvāt sarva-mādakam ity arthaḥ | surate kṛta-madhu-pānatvāt tad-īṣad-gandhi vā |
(Sāraṅga-raṅgadā-ṭīkā)
“Experiencing such special, unlimited mādhurya of his [i.e., of Śrī Kṛṣṇa], with astonishment the author says, ‘Sweet, sweet is this Lord’s figure,’ meaning, it is [not just sweet or very sweet but] exceedingly very sweet. Then, observing [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] blessed face, with his head shaking, the author says, ‘Sweet, sweet, sweet, however, is his face,’ meaning, it is [even] more exceedingly very sweet [than his figure in general]. [Then,] Experiencing [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] gentle smile therein, with a whoop [lit., śīt, i.e., the sound made by drawing air into the mouth that is is expressive of a sudden thrill of pleasure] and his waving finger pointing it out, the author says, ‘Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, however, is this gentle smile,’ meaning, it is most exceedingly very sweet [than his figure and face in general]. [Furthermore,] Of what nature [was his smile]? ’Nectar-scented’ (madhu-gandhi), that is, replete with the fragrance of nectar, meaning, intoxicating to all because of [his] lotus face’s having nectar as an inherent property, or, [meaning] slightly scented with a honey liqueur because of [his] having drunk that in the course of [his] amorous play [with Śrī Rādhā].”